Electrically-heated baking machine



May 13, 1930* R. TUGENDHAT 1,757,983

ELECTRICAL-LY HEATED BAKING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 1a, 1923 3Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR BY W660.

/ ATTORNEY5 May 13, 1930. TUGENDHAT I 1,757,983

- ELECTRICALLY HEATED BAKING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 18, 1923 I5Sheets-Sheet 3 I N VEN TOR T 550265 Twat/vow?" May 13, 1930. R. a.TUGENDHAT.

ELECTRICALLY HEATED BAKING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 18, 1923 3Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR H mm M w m ,n

Patented May 13, 1930' UNITED "STATES PLATENT OFFICE ROBERT GEORGETUGENDHAT, OF BRUNN, CZECHOSLOVAKIA, ASSIGNOR TO BAKER PERKINS COMPANY,OF SAGINAW, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK ELECTRIGALLY-HEATEDBAKING MACHINE Original application filed December 18, 1928, Serial No.681,329. Divided and this application filed October 22, 1926. Serial No.143,529.

This invention relates to baking apparatus, and more particularly toelectrically heated baking machines. The invention is illustrated inthis application as embodied in a baking machine, especially designedfor use in the production of wafers and similar articles. Articles ofthis character are eXten-/ sively manufactured in what is known in theart as automatic baking machines? Such machines comprise a series ofbaking pans arranged to travel along a track, and arranged to receivethe material to be baked at one point in their travel and to dischargethe baked material at another point. Such machines are rovided withsuitable heating mechanism or heating the pans during their travel fromthe loading point to the point of discharge, so as to bake the materialduring this period, and certain machines have embodied electricalheating mechanism.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to improve theconstruction and mode of operation of electrically heated bakingmachines of the travelling pan type and to provide such machines withimproved mechanism for heating the pans.

Another object of the invention is to provide machines of this classwith novel and improved electrical connections for supplying current toheaters of the movable parts of the baking pans, uniformly and withoutinterruption, regardless of the position or movement of these parts ofthe ans.

With these and other ObJects in view, the

invention comprises the novel and improved features, construction andcombination of parts hereinafter described, and particularly In thedrawings: V Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view showing a section oftrack, a baking pan in section and its manner of support on the track,the electricity conductors, and the collecting means by which theelectric current is transferred from the electricity conductors to thebaking pans;

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of the baking machine showing thbaking pans, the track about which they travel, and the electricityconductors, other parts of the machine being shown diagrammatically oromitted;

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view taken through the axis of the hingeof the cover of one of the baking pans, and illustrating the manner inwhich the electric current is conducted to the heaters of the pan coversregardless of the position of said covers;

Figure 4 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of one of the electriccurrent collecting devices, a portion of said view being in section;

Figure 5 is a detail view in elevation and partly in section of one ofthe collecting devices;

Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 6-6 ofFigure 1 with parts of the cover hinge pin broken away to show moreclearly the supports and mountings of the collecting devices;

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 77 of Figure 6but showing a modified form of electrical connecting means between thebaking pans and the collecting devices;

Figures 8 and 9 are detail sectional views taken on the lines 8-8 and 99respectively of Figure 7, and showing two types of mountings for theelectric current collecting devices.

The machine illustrated in the drawings of this application is anautomatic wafer baking machine made up of a train of wheeled baking pansarranged to run along suitable tracks preferably consisting of twosuperimposed straight portions connected by two curved portions. Themachine comprises a plurality of baking pans 10 which are suitablyconnected together, preferably at opposite ends thereof, by links 18.These connected pans are moved around endless tracks 17 by means ofsuitably driven sprockets 19 which engage lugs 20 on the baking pans.The pans are supported on the track by rollers 16 mounted upon axlesiorstub shafts 15 which, in turn, are suitably mounted in crossebars 14extending transversely of the under sides of the pans.

Each of the pans 10 preferably comprises a body portion or base 11 inwhich the batter to be baked is carried, and a cover 12 for the bodyportion. The cover 12 is mounted to the body portion to permit the coverto swing to open and closed positions in respect to the body ortion.

In t e illustrated construction, brackets extending rearwardly from thecover 12 of each of the pans terminate in hinge ears 13 adapted toco-operate with similar ears on the upright posts 63 extending from thecrossbars 14. These ears are pivotally connected by a hinge pin 62 heldin place longitudinally by washers and pins as show 11.

In baking apparatus of the type disclosed, the time required to bakeeach batch of batter is very short so that the covers of the baking pansare opened and closed frequently. In the present construction, both thecover and the base of the pan are provided with electrical heaters. Evenhighly flexible conductors, carrying current to the cover heaters, wouldsoon Wear out with this service and I have, therefore, provided hingesin the cover conductors to permit movement of the cover without wear onthe conductors. I prefer to mount these conductor hinges on the pin 62to which the cover, as a whole, is pivoted, first placing an insulatingsleeve 66 over the pin when the pin is made of conducting material. Onthe sleeve 66, I mount conducting cylinders 65 and 64, which I separateby an insulating spacer 67, and retain against longitudinal movement byinsulating rings 68 and 69 and pins 70, as shown in Figure 3. Sleevecontacts 72 and 71 are journalled on the conducing cylinders 65 and 64respectively. Movement of sleeve 72, axially of the cylinder 65, islimited by its abutment against the adjacent ring 69 and a lug orshoulder on the conducting cylinder 65, while the spacer 67 and a lug onthe conducting cylinder 64 perform the same function for the sleeve 71.Conducting straps 36 and 35, pivotally connected respectively with thesleeve contacts 72 and 71, connect said contacts respectively to oposite ends of the cover heater element.

I 0 tain the heating current from bus or trolley wires 21, 22, 23 and 24which extend one above the other substantially parallel to the track onwhich the train of pans circulates and at one side thereof, preferablyon the side of the pans adjacent to that on which the hinges connectingthe bases with the covers are located. These trolley wires are supportedupon uprights 55 by means of suitable insulators 54 and receive theelectrical current from any suitable source of supply (not shown). Theseconductors maybe connected through independent switching mechanism to Ithe same or to different sources of power. By connecting the coverheaters with one pair of trolley wires, and the base heaters withanother pair of wires, I may thus control the heating of either part ofeach pan independently of the other, either by changing the voltageimpressed on the feed wires or by opening one circuit entirely. Tocompensate for irregularities in the track and bus wires, and to providefor continuous connection between the heaters and the wires, even oncurved portions of the track, I employ spring pressed trolleys 25, 26,27 and 28 to carry cur rent from the wires to the baking pans. Thetrolleys may conveniently be mounted at the levels of their respectivetrolley wires in bearing supports 47, fixed to an insulating block 30,carried between the rear brackets of the pan carriage. As shown inFigures 4 and 5, each trolley consists of two hinged conducting arms 39and 40. A trolley wheel 37, grooved to fit a trolley wire, is rotatablymounted on a pin 42 which is secured between the bifurcated ends 41 ofthe trolley arm 39. This arm 39 is preferably of rectangularcross-section and is hinged as by pin 45 to the end portion of the arm40, also of rectangular cross-section. The pin 45 is normally located insubstantially a vertical position and thus permits the arm 39 to swinghorizontally. The arm 40 has an abrupt shoulder dividing its hingeportion from a cylindrical portion 46 which is journalled in the bearingsupports 47 to permit vertical movement of the trolley wheel, the armbeing retained in its bearing by a washer and pin as shown.'

The axis of rotation of each arm 40 is substantially horizontal and insubstantially the same plane with the trolley wire with which said armis electrically connected. A leaf spring 56 is secured to the arm 40 ofthe trolley and presses against the other arm 39 to hold the trolleywheel 37 in good conducting engagement with the trolley wire as. the pancarriages are drawn or moved along the track. The bearing supports 47for the several pan carriages are secured to the respective extensionsof the insulating blocks 30 as by screws 50.

The two upper bearing supports 47, which carry the trolley engaging thewires 23 and 24, are connected to the cylindrical sleeve contacts 65 and64 respectively which are connected to the terminals of the cover heaterelement in the manner previously described. The connection between thebearing supports 47 and the sleeves 65 and 64 may be by single strips 36and 35 (Fig. 1) or by the articulated strips 31 (Fig. 7) which permitsome rotation of the sleeves. In either case, the

strips are hinged to the bearing supports 47 between the cans 75,preferably formed integral therewith (Fig. 4).

The two lower bearing supports 47, which carry the two lower trolleys,are directly connected to the opposite ends of the pan heater element bystrips 33 and 34 which may be securedto the bearing supports as by thebinding screws 60 (Fig. 8).

What is claimed is: v

1. Baking apparatus comprising a track, a baking pan movable along saidtrack and having a base and a cover hinged to the base,

electric heating elements for the base and cover, a plurality ofelectricity conductors connected to a suitablesource of power andextending along the track, and means for connecting said heatingelements to said conductors to heat the base and cover during movementof said pan over said track.

2. Baking apparatus comprising a track, a baking pan adapted to travelalong said track and having a base and a hinged cover, electric heatingelements respectively-for the base and cover, two sets of conductorsextending along the track and independently connectable to a source ofelectric current supply, two sets of collecting devices mounted on thebaking pan and arranged to contact with said conductors, and connectionsbetween one set of collecting devices and the electric heating elementfor the cover of the baking pan, and between the other set of collectingdevices and the electric heater for the base, whereby current maybesupplied independently to the cover and base elements during travel ofthe baking pan.

3. Baking apparatus comprising a track. a plurality of baking pansmovable along said track, each having a base and a hinged cover, anelectric heater for the base of each of said baking pans, an electricheater for the hinged cover of each pan, means for moving said bakingpans along said track, and means for supplying electric current to saidelectric heaters simultaneously during movement of the baking pansthroughout the entire length of the track.

4. Baking apparatus comprising an endless track, a plurality ofelectricity conductors extending parallel with said track throughout itslength, a plurality of baking pans movable along said track, and eachhaving a base and a hinged cover for closing the'pan, an-

pans, said means including the hinge of the 7 covers.

5. Baking apparatus comprising a track, electricity conductors extendingparallel therewith and throughout the length thereof, a baking panmovable along said track and an electric heater associated 6. Bakingapparatus comprising an endless track, a plurality of electricityconductors arranged parallel with said track, a plurality of baking pansmovable over said track and each having a base and a hinged cover, withthe base of each of said baking pans, an electric heater associated witheach of said hinged covers, collecting devices associated with each ofsaid baking pans, and movable therewith, said collecting devices havingcontact with said electricity conductors, and means for connecting saidcollecting devices with said heating elements for constantly supplyingelectric current thereto regardless of the position ofthe baking pansrelative to the track or the covers relative to the respective bases ofthe pans.

7. Baking apparatus comprising an endless track, a plurality ofelectricity conductors extending throughout the length of said track andparallel thereto, a plurality of connected baking pans movable alongsaid track, each having a base and a hinged cover, a hinge pinconnecting the base with the cover, an electric heating element carriedby the base of each of said baking pans, an electric heating elementcarried by each of said hinged covers, and means for supplying electriccurrent to each of said electric heating elements, said means comprisinga plurality of conductors, a plurality of collecting devices havingmovable contact therewith, means for connecting the electric heater ofthe base of each baking pan with certain of said collecting devices, andmeans for connecting other of said collecting devices with the heatingelement of each hinged cover, said last mentioned means comprising asleeve of insulating material surrounding the hinge pin of the hingedcover, spaced sleeves of conducting material carried by said sleeve ofinsulating material, a collar of conducting material rotatably mountedon each of said spaced sleeves, means for connecting said spaced sleevesto certain of the collecting devices, and means for connecting saidcollars to the respective terminals of the electric heater for thehinged cover. y

8. Baking apparatus comprising a plurality of travelling baking pans,each having a base and a hinged cover, a hinge pin connecting the baseand cover, an electric heater associated with the baseof each of saidbaking pans, an electric heater for the cover of each of said pans, andmeans for supplying electric current separately to said electricheaters, said means comprising a plurality of elec tricity conductorsextending substantially parallel with the path of travel of said bakingpans, collecting devices associated with the bases of the baking pansand connected directly to the electric heaters thereof, collectingdevices associated with the electric heaters for the hinged covers ofsaid pans, and means carried by the hinge pin of each baking pan forestablishing electrical connection between the latter collecting devicesand the electric heater for the cover of the pan.

9. In baking apparatus, the combination with a travelling baking pan, acover therefor, a hinge member to support the cover for movementrelative to the pan, and an electric heating element movable with thecover, of contacts mounted on the hinge and electrically connected tothe heater and movable with the cover, contacts mounted on' the hinge soas to be independent of movement of the cover and arranged to remain inelectrical contact with said cover contacts regardless of movement ofthe latter, conductors arranged parallel to and adjacent to the path oftravel of said pan and carrying a current sufficient to suitably'heatsaid cover, and means electrically connected to said independentcontacts adapted to maintain sliding electrical contact with saidconductors.

10. A baking apparatus comprising a series of travelling pans, each panhaving relatively movable permanently connected parts,'an electricalheater for each part of the pan, conductors extending along the path ofthe pans and collectors associated with each an and movable therewithand having movable contact with the conductors for supplying currentindependently to said heaters.

11. A baking apparatus comprising a series of travelling pans, each panbeing provided with relatively movable, permanently connected parts,said heater for each part of a pan, and means for continuously supplyingcurent to each of said heaters independently of the other during thetravel of the pans.

12. A baking apparatus comprising a series of travelling pans, each panbeing provided with relatively movable, permanently connected parts, aheater for each part of a pan, and means for continuously supplyingcurrent to each of said heaters independently during the travel of thepans and during the relative movement of the parts of the pans.

13. A baking apparatus comprising a series of travelling pans, eachhaving relatively movable parts, a heater for each of said arts of thepans, means for continuously supp ying current independently to each ofsaid heaters during the travel of the pans.

elling pan, a heater 14. A baking apparatus comprising a series oftravelling pans, each having relatively movable parts, a heater for eachpart of a pan, and means for supplying continuously current to saidheaters during the travel of the pans and during the relative movementof the parts of the pan.

15. A baking apparatus comprising a travelling pan, a heater for saidpan, a conductor extending along the path of travel of said pan, meansfor supplying electric current to said conductors, a collector formovably engaging the conductor during the travel of the pan, saidcollector comprising a contact element movable in two different planesto main tain proper contact with the conductor and a connection beneaththe collector and the heater.

16. A baking apparatus comprising a travfor said pan, a conductorextending along the path of travel of the pan, means for supplyingcurrent to said conductor, a collector for engaging the conductor, saidcollector comprising a contact element pivoted to swing in two differentplanes to maintain proper contact with the conductor, and means foryieldingly engaging said contact element with the conductor.

17. A baking apparatus comprising a travelling pan having a movableelement, an electric heater mounted on said movable element of the pan,a conductor for delivering electric current to the heater, said panelement being movable transversely with relation to the conductor, acollector attached to the pan and having a movable contact with theconductor, and means for maintaining an electric connection between thecollector and the heater during the movement of said pan element.

18. A baking apparatus comprising a travelling pan having a base and acover, one of which is movable relatively to the other, an electricheater mounted on the movable element of the pan, a conductor extendingalong the path of travel of the pan, a collector connected to the panand having a movable contact with the conductor, and means formaintaining an electrical connection between the collector and theheater during the movement of said movable element of the pan.

19. A baking apparatus comprising a travelling pan provided with a baseand a hinged cover, a heater for said base, a heater for the cover,conductors extending along the path of travel of the pan, collectordevices connected with the pan and having a movable contact with theconductor for connecting electrically the conductors and the heatersduring travelling movements of the pan, and means for maintaining anelectric connection between certain of said collectors and the heaterfor said cover during the pivotal movements of the cover.

20. In baking apparatus, a track, a train of electrically-heated bakingpans provided with hinged covers movable along said track and meansfor'heating said pans and said covers independently.

21. Baking apparatus comprising a track, a plurality of connected bakingpans movable along said track, covers hinged to each pan, electricheaters for heating said pans, a conductor for supplying electriccurrent to said heaters and a collector carried by each pan .forelectrically connecting said-heaters to said conductor in every positionof the pans upon the track.

22. Baking apparatus comprising a track, a train of baking panstraveling on'said track, electric heating elements for said pans,stationary electric conductors connected to a suitable source ofelectricity and extending parallel to said track at the sides of saidtrain of pans, and means for electrically connecting said heatingelements to said conductors.

23. Baking apparatus comprising a track a train of bakin pans travelingon said track, electric heating elements for said pans, electricconductors connected to a suitable source of electricity and extendingone above the other along the said track at the side of said pans, andmeans for connecting said heating elements to said conductors.

24. Baking apparatus comprising a track, a train of baking panstraveling on said track, each pan having a base and a cover connected toeach other by hinges, heating elements in the base and cover of each ofsaid pans, a plurality of stationary electric conductors each connectedto a suitable source of electricity and extending one above the otheralong said track at the side thereof adjacent to the hinges connectingthe base and cover of said pans, and means for connecting said heatingelements to said conductors.

25. A baking machine comprising an end-' less track having two straightflights connected by two curved ends, an endless train of baking pans,each integral with a wheeled support traveling on said track, electricelements adapted to bake the contents of said pans, endless conductorsconnected to a suitable source of electricity, and means adapted to leadthe electricity required from said condoctors tosa-id heating elementsand including contact means carried on the wheeled support of said pan.

26. Baking apparatus comprising a track, a train of baking pans, eachintegral with a wheeledsupport traveling on said track, electricelements adapted to bake the contents of said pans, main electricconductors connected to a suitable source of electricity and extendingone above the other along said track at the side thereof, spring pressedcontacts moving along said main conductors, insulating blocks carried bythe Wheeled sup- Y track of the less train of baking pans circulating onthe said track, electric heating elements provided in the said pans tobake the contents thereof, and means to supply electricity to the saidheating elements at every position of the said pans on the said track.

28. In baking apparatus, an endless track consisting of two superim osedstraight portions connected by curve portions, an endless train ofbaking pans said track, each pan consisting of a base and a covertherefor, heating elements provided in the base and the cover to bakethe contents thereof, and means separately to supply eleciricity to theheating elements of the base and of the cover of each'pan in such amanher that at all times during 0 eration of the apparatus each of thesaid e ements is supplied with electricity at any position on said pan,to which it belon s.

29. In bakmg apparatus, an end ess track, consisting of straightportions connected by curved portions, an' endless train of bakingcirculating on the electric heating elements provided in said pans tobake the contents thereof, and electrical connections for supplyingelectricity to the said heating elements, said connections including aconductor and means electrically connected to said heaters and saidconductor at every position of the said pans on the said track.

30. In baking apparatus, an endless track consisting of two superimposedstraight portions connected by curved portions, an endless train ofbaking pans movable on the said track, each pan consisting of a base anda cover therefor, heating elements provided in the base and the cover tobake the contents thereof, and electrical connections for supplyingelectricity separately to the heating elements of the base and of thecover of each pan, said connections including a conductor and meanselectrically connected to said baking pans and said conductor at everyposition of the said pans on the said track.

31. Baking apparatus comprising a track having two superimposed straightportions connected by curved portions, an endless train of baking panscirculating on said track, electric heating elements provided in saidpans to bake the contents thereof, stationary electricity conductorsconnected to a suitable source of electricity, and extending one abovethe other substantially parallel to said track at one side thereof, andmeans electrically connecting said heating elements to said conductors,and so adapted that at no time the current thus transferred to saidheating elements is interrupted or weakened for any of the said pans inconsequence of its-position on the said track.

32. Baking apparatus comprising a track having two superimposed straightportions connected by curved portions, and endless train of baking panscirculating on said track, each pan having a base and a cover connectedto each other by hinges, all these hinges being positioned at the sameside of said train, electric heating elements, one in the base and onein the cover of each of said pans to bake the contents thereof,stationary electricity conductors connected to a suitable source ofelectricity and extending one above the other substantially parallel tosaid track at the side thereof adjacent to the hinges connecting thebase and cover of said pans, and means connecting said elements to saidconductors and 50 adapted that at no time the current thus transferredto said electric heating elements is interrupted or weakened for any ofsaid pans in consequence of its position on said track.

33. A baking machine comprising an endless track having two superimposedstraight portions connected by curved portions, an endless train ofwheeled baking pans circulating on said track, electric heating elementsprovided in each of said pans to bake the contents thereof, stationaryendless electricity conductors connected to a suitable source ofelectricity and extending one above the other at one side of said trackopposite to said pans and parallel to the straight portions of saidtrack and corresponding to the position of the said pans on the curvedportions of the same, and means connecting said conductors to saidheating elements in such a manner, that at no time the current thustransferred to said heating elements is interrupted or weakened for anyof said pans in'consequenceof its position on said track.

' 34. A baking apparatus comprising a track, a train of baking pans,wheeled supports for each of said pans traveling on said track, electricelements provided in said pans to bake the contents thereof, stationaryelectricity conductors connected to a suitable source of electricity andextending one above the other substantially parallel to said track atone side thereof adjacent said pans, insulating blocks fixed on each ofthe said wheeled supports of said pans on one side thereof and providedwith bearing supports formed of conducting material, flexible means fortransferring the electric current from said conductors to said bearingsupports and flexible means to transfer the current from said bearingsupports to said electric elements. in said pans.

35. A baking apparatus comprising a track, a train of baking pans,wheeled supports, one for each of said pans and integral therewith,electric elements provided in said pans to bake the contents thereof,stationary electricity conductors connected to a suitable source ofelectricity and extending one above the other substantially parallel tosaid track at one side thereof opposite to said pans, and means adaptedto lead electricity from said conductors to said heating elements andcomprising bearing supports made of conducting material and carried bysaid wheeled supports of said pans, spring pressed contacts runningalong said conductors and rotatably mounted in the said bearingsupports, and flexible conductors connecting the latter with saidheating elements in said pans.

36. A baking apparatus comprising a track, a train of baking pans,wheeled supports, one for each of said pans and integral therewith,electric elements provided in said pans to bake the contents thereof,stationary buswires connected to a suitable source of electricity andextending one above the other substantially parallel to said track atone side thereof opposite to said pans, insulating blocks fixed on eachof the said wheeled supports, all on one side thereof, bearing supportsmade of conducting material, provided with longitudinal cylindricalopenings and fixed on said insulating blocks so that these openings aresubstantially vertical to said track, trolley wheels -running on saidbuswires, trolley holders made of conducting material, and eachconsisting of two arms. one arm carrying at its bifurcated end one ofsaid trolley wheels, hinged at its other end to the reenforced end partof the second arm and being pressed against its corresponding buswire bya spring provided at this reenforced end part, and the second armforming for the rest of its length a shaft rotatably mounted in theopening of its corresponding bearing support, and flexible conductorsconnecting the said bearing supports with said heating elements in saidpans.

ROBERT GEORGE TUGENDHAT.

